Contents What Is Design Thinking 4 The Design-thinking Process 6 Empathize 8 Define 10 Ideate 12 Prototype 14 Test 16 Reflect 18 Unequal Access to Information 20 PROJECT CASE Language Barriers for Newcomers 21 CASE Who Gets the Message 23 CASE The Cost of Access 25 DESIGN THINKING IN PRACTICE Accessing Information 26 Isolation in Communities 28 PROJECT CASE Loneliness of Older Adults 29 CASE Barriers for Differently Abled Persons 31 Isolation of Living Alone 32 CASE DESIGN THINKING IN PRACTICE Islolation 34 Challenges to Participation 36 PROJECT CASE Participation for All Abilities 37 CASE Language and Cultural Barriers 39 CASE The Cost of Joining In 41 DESIGN THINKING IN PRACTICE Participation 42 What’s Next for Design Thinking 44 Learning More 45 Bibliography 45 Glossary 47 Index 48 About the Author 48
What Is Design Thinking Design thinking is a problem-solving process that inspires collaboration and community involvement Design thinking begins with empathy Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings and perspectives of other people In design thinking starting with empathy means that design thinkers try to understand the unique perspective of their user or the person who is experiencing a problem before designing a solution that will help them The process aims to solve problems the user experiences in a way that works best for the user not the designer Design thinking can be used to create objects such as tools or devices It can also be used to create systems and processes or ways of doing things Design thinking brings many minds together to create important solutions to problems in communities such as improving the lives of people in need by helping a local shelter 4
Failing Forward Design thinkers test their solutions with the users to see how well it works for them Sometimes a design thinker’s solution does not work the first time Design thinkers then change and test their solution until it works well for their user This is called failing forward Failing forward is important in design thinking because the design-thinking process is iterative This means it is done over and over until designers find an idea that works Each iteration or loop through the process helps design thinkers improve their ideas Why Design Thinking Design thinking is often used by businesses to help create products and services that meet customers needs But design thinking can also be used to help people in your community Sometimes design thinking is known as public interest design it is useful for solving problems for the good of others Design thinking works best in groups and teams Luke Anderson Stopped the Gap When Luke Anderson was paralyzed in an accident and lost the use of his legs he learned how hard everyday life is for people who use wheelchairs He was frustrated because he was often unable to go into certain places usually because buildings had steps and no wheelchair-accessible ramps This frustration helped him develop empathy for other people with mobility challenges He realized how people with different physical abilities were affected by the lack of access to certain buildings and places He used this empathy to design the Stop Gap a simple portable ramp that can be easily placed at the entrance of any building that is not wheelchair-accessible Luke now runs an elementary school program that is available to any school that wants to use it Students learn about the importance of accessibility and inclusion and about using empathy to help make their communities even better places to live The students look for non-accessible stores and restaurants in their community and write letters to the businesses offering to help them get a Stop Gap ramp Installing a Stop Gap ramp is a simple way to make buildings accessible to wheelchair users 5
